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Nov 14, 2011

Somnio Nada Shoe review

Rest day today!!!

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So as many of you know(if you remembered), about four months ago I won a pair of Somnio Nada Shoes from Barefoot Angie Bee. I have worn other "barefoot" type shoes in the past(I even did a review of another pair) and was interested to try these. When you first pick these shoes up, the first thing you notice is how incredibly light they are(4.2 ounces). Of course, that is the point, right? They are barefoot style shoes - zero drop, no cushioning and very light.

I normally wear an 8.5 but these shoes run VERY large so I ended up with 7.5 - a full size smaller and they fit perfect.

I took a picture of the box because I like how the company makes you feel welcome to purchase their product. - "It's all about You" They want to make sure that you get the shoes that are perfect for you.

The shoes also come with a DVD that talks about how to run barefoot - good form and strengthening exercises. What a great idea. You don't want to be that person that buys these and decides to run a half marathon in them the week after you get them. Not a good idea - unless of course, you have been running barefoot for a long time.

So check them out. Here they are! As you can tell, the shoes are minimal with a very flat bottom(aka zero drop) and little cushioning. I'm not a person that would ever try completely barefoot running so these are a great alternative. At least you don't have to worry about what you are stepping on for the most part.

See how flat these are!

Here's a picture that shows the heel. Personally I thought they were very comfortable. I know that most people that buy these would wear them with no socks but I just could not get used to wearing these without socks. I feel they are much more comfortable with socks.

Just to give you a comparison with a more traditional running shoe. Here is one of the shoes I have been wearing - Saucony's Ride 2(yes, I know I'm a little behind in the models but they work for me) The point is....look how much different these are compared to a cushioned shoe. The different is unbelievable. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. They are literally half the shoe.

Now I still never really got up to big mileage on these. Keep in mind that if you have not run in barefoot shoes, it takes time to get used to running without any cushion. What I have basically used these for is to help strengthen my legs and not for long distances. It's likely I will never race in them or run long in them. This is not because they are not good shoes but just not my preference.

Please keep in mind that I don't mind using a shoe that is minimal/natural for running. I'm actually testing a pair right now for a future review that I have enjoyed running in. I just cannot see running in these shoes for all times. They just don't have the protection or cushion that I prefer. The shoes are made very well and will stand up to a lot of abuse from running but I'll never be a long distance barefoot runner.

If you are into barefoot running though, I think these are great for your speed workouts or tempo runs since they are so light. You will want to run fast in them. They do cushion little rocks, sticks, etc. so you don't have to be barefoot. The toe box is wide similar to many kinds of barefoot shoes. I would personally rather use these than be barefoot in a race. They would also do well during winter. What do you barefooters do in winter?

My only complain? I think the silver part of the shoes look like duct tape and make the shoes look cheaper than they really are - don't you? I think they could have done a better job with the styling on these or perhaps had some other choices for colors.

** Subsequent to this review, a representative from Somnio contacted me. They do have new styles for the Nada so please check out their website for new colors/styles. A huge improvement in my opinion!

If you are not a barefoot runner, you can still check them out as they do sell other types of shoes for what would fit your style of running.